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maXj, Betk^Gurin O'^'lia TT^^), Arho C\y^^), and Qb- tarechPkilippi, Brocaidus, a writer of the 18th cen- tuiy, even describes Decapolis as extending in breadth from tiie Sea of Galilee to Sidon, and in length from Tiberias to Damascus, including the following ten chief towns : *' Tiberias, Sophet, Cedes Nephtalim, As- sor, Cnsarea-Philippi, Capernaum, Jonitera, Bethsai- da, Corazhi, and Bethsan" (Descr. Terra SandcB, in Le Clerc's ed. of Euseb. Gnomast, p. 175). Andronichas gives an account of the extent of the Decapolis sub- stantially the same (Theatr, Terra Sancta). But these statements are Justiy pronounced by Lightfoot (0pp. ii, 417 sq.) as pure suppositions. All the cities of De- capolis, with tiie single exception of Scythopolis, lay on the east d the Jordan ; and both Eusebius and Je- rome (Onomaet. s. v. Decapolis) say that the district was situated " beyond the Jordan, around Hippos, Pel- la, and Gadara"— that is, to the east and south-east of the Sea of Galilee. With this also agrees the state- ment in Mark v, 20, that the demoniac who was cured at Gadara '* began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done to him.'* The phraseology in Matt iv, 26 ; Mark vii, 81, implying a situation on the west of the Jordan, must therefore be understood in a popular and general sense of a district but vaguely bounded, and one of whose towns was on that side of the river. In the latter passage indeed the entire dif- ficulty vanishes, i^ with the latest critics, we read did Itiuvo^ instead of rai ^BStvog, and place these words after ^X^e, thus: "And again departing from the coasts of iV^ ^ ^^^"""^ through Sidon unto the Sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis." In that case our Lord travelled from Tyre northward to Sidon ; then he appears to have crossed Lebanon by the great road to Cnsarea-Phllippi ; and from thence he descended through Decapolis to the eastern shwe of the lake, where he fed the multitude (comp. Matt, xv, 29-88; Mark viu, 1-9). It thus appears that *<the region of Decapolis" was beyond the Jordan, with the exception of the littie territory of Scythopolis close to the western bank, at the southern end of the Sea of Galilee. In addition to Damascus and Scythopolis, whose sites are well known, its chief towns were : Ga- dara, about six miles south-east of the lake ; Pella, on the side of the range of Gilead, opposite Scythopolis ; Philadelphia, the ancient Babbotii-Ammon ; Gerasa, whose ruins are the most magnificent in all Palestine ; and Canatha, the Kenath of the Bible, situated east- ward among the mountains of Bashan. Decapolis was not stricUy a province, like Cralilee, Pensa, or Tracho- nitis. It was rather an assemblage of little principal- ities, classed together, not because of their geographic- al position, but because they enjoyed the same privi- leges, somewhat after the manner of the Hanse Towns in Germany. This region, once so populous and pros- perous, from which multitudes flocked to hear the Sav- iour, and through which multitudes followed his foot- steps, is now almost without an inhabitant. Six out of the ten cities are completely ruined and deserted. Scythopolis, Gadara, and Canatha have still a few fam- ilies, living, more like wild beasts than human beings, amid the crumbling ruins of palaces, and in the cav- ernous recesses of old tombs. Damascus alone con- tinues to flourish, like an oasis in a desert — Kitto, s. V . ; Smith, s. v. See Pbilsa.
Dechant, Jacob William, a minister of the Gerw man Beformed Church, was bom at Kreutznach, in the Palatinate, Germany, Feb. 18, 1784, and emigrated to America in 1805. Having received a good prepara- tory training in Europe, he studied theology with Dr. Becker, of Baltfanore, Md., and was ordained in 1808. His first pastoral charge consbted of six congregations in Lehigh County, Pa. In 1815 he was sent as a mis- sionary to Ohio, returning after some years to Penn- sylvania to take charge of congregations in Berks and Here he labored with success
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till his death. He died suddenly on his way home from Synod, of cholera, Oct. 5, 1832. Three of his sons are now actively engaged in the work of the ministry in the German Beformed Church. He preached only in the German language. A number of prominent German Reformed ministers received their theological training under him.
Decimsa. See Tithbs.
DeciBion, VALLEY OF (^^^nn p«?, B'mek, ke'ChanU/, vaJk of the MMUnce; Sept. ^ cocXdc m ^/ci^Cy Vulg. VaUit condtiom$)f a name poetically given to the Valley of Jbhosbaphat (q. v.), as being the ideal scene of the signal inflictions by Jehovah upon Zion's enemies at their restoration (Joel lii, 14). In perversion of some such prediction, the Mohammedans still believe that the final judgment will take place on this spot, and have accordingly left a stone in the city wall overhanging the valley, projecting as a seat for their prophet in the capacity of judge.
Decius, C. MBSflins Quihtub Tbajakus, a Ro- man emperor, was bom at Bnballa, in Lower Panno- nia, towards the close of the second century. Being sent in 249 by the emperor Philippus to restore to sub- ordination the army of Mossia, which was in a state of revolt, the troops proclaimed him emperor against his will, and forced him to march upon Italy. Philippus having been defeated and slain, Decius assumed the government of the empire In the end of the year A.D. 249, but his brief reign was one of restless warring with the Goths, fighting against whom he was killed near Abricium, in the dose of the year 251. Decius was an emperor of more than ordinary ability, but his reign was stained by a bloody persecution of the Chris-